Controlling family of multinational chemical and construction materials business, Sika AG. The Swiss company was founded in 1910 by Kaspar Winkler. Today, Sika AG produces annual sales of over $7 billion, operating in over 84 countries and headquartered in Baar, Switzerland.
Kaspar Winkler’s son-in-law, Fritz Schenker, joined Sika’s executive board in 1928 and was the driving force behind the firm’s international expansion. In 1960, Schenker’s son-in-law, Romuald Burkard, took over leadership of the company and continued Sika’s diversification and growth. In 1989, the Burkard-Schenker family relinquished management of Sika but retained 54 per cent of the company’s shares.
Today, the family’s fourth generation of heirs is made up of Fritz, Gabriella, Monica, Carmita and Urs Burkard. The five siblings remain the only family members to sit on the company’s board.
Burkard-Schenker family
Kaspar Winkler founder of sika - courtesy of Sika AG